Flyers acquire Meszaros from Tampa Bay; re-sign Coburn

The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired 6’2’’, 223-pound defenseman Andrej Meszaros from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In addition, the Flyers have signed 6’5’’, 220-pound defenseman Braydon Coburn to a two-year contract extension, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren.

Philadelphia Flyers' Braydon Coburn, top, collides with Montreal Canadiens' Maxim Lapierre in the third period of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference Finals, Monday, May 24, 2010, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 4-2 and took the series 4-1. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“We are excited to add Andrej to our team and defensive group,” said Holmgren. “Andrej is a young, durable defenseman who can play in all situations and will be a good fit on our Club.”

Meszaros, 24, recorded 17 points (6G,11A) and 50 penalty minutes in 81 games with the Lightning this past season. In addition, he appeared in seven games, going scoreless, as a member of Team Slovakia in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Over the course of two seasons with Tampa Bay, he compiled 33 points (8G,25A) and 86 penalty minutes in 133 games.

Over parts of five seasons in the NHL with the Lightning (2008-09 to 2009-10) and Ottawa Senators (2005-06 to 2007-08), Meszaros has registered 143 points (34G,109A) and 299 penalty minutes in 379 regular season contests. He has also recorded nine points (2G,7A) and 36 penalty minutes in 34 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

A native of Povazska Bystrica, Slovakia, Meszaros was originally drafted by Ottawa in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2006.

Coburn, 25, recorded 19 points (5G,14A) and 54 penalty minutes in 81 regular season games for the Flyers in 2009-10. He also appeared in all 23 games of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording four points (1G,3A) and 22 penalty minutes and averaged 25:09 of time-on-ice per game to help lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final.

Over parts of four seasons with the Flyers (2006-07 through 2009-10) Coburn has posted 90 points (24G,66A) and 151 penalty minutes in 259 regular season games and 13 points (1G,12A) and 43 penalty minutes in 43 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Coburn was originally acquired by the Flyers on Feb. 24, 2007 from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Alexei Zhitnik and signed a contract extension with the Flyers on Nov. 28, 2007.

A native of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Coburn was originally drafted by the Thrashers in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.